At the Xiao Family Villa.
Xiao Jianren helped the just-awoken Jian Hongmei down the stairs for lunch. As soon as they sat at the dining table, Aunt Zhang served Jian Hongmei a bowl of crucian carp soup.
"Madam, please try this soup. It tastes very fresh."
Jian Hongmei took a small sip with her spoon. The flavor was delicious, and it didn't make her feel nauseous like she sometimes did during pregnancy. She nodded, her mood much improved.
"Xiao Jianren, you should also have a bowl and try it. The soup really does taste good."
Xiao Jianren curved her lips and said considerately, "Mom, you should drink more for the good of the baby."
Jian Hongmei felt that her daughter was becoming more caring and didn't say anything more, drinking the entire bowl of soup.
Aunt Zhang refilled another bowl for Jian Hongmei.
As Xiao Jianren ate her meal, her face betrayed no emotion, but she inwardly sneered: Yes, drink more, finish it all, it will definitely do wonders for that bastard child.
Looking up at the attentive Aunt Zhang, Xiao Jianren inwardly mocked: Humph, you've been constantly telling on me to my father, just you wait, you'll get yours after today!
After the meal, Xiao Jianren accompanied Jian Hongmei in the living room, distractedly responding to her occasional comments as she closely watched for any reactions from Jian Hongmei's body.
An hour later, Jian Hongmei's brow furrowed as she gently held her abdomen. Standing up, she said, "Xiao Jianren, mom needs to use the restroom, you stay here."
Xiao Jianren obediently nodded, a satisfied smile flashing across her face as she watched Jian Hongmei leave.
Soon after, Jian Hongmei's screams came from the bathroom.
"Ah...! Someone help! Quick, someone come quickly! I'm... I'm bleeding!"
"Xiao Jianren! Aunt Zhang! Hurry... hurry and save... save my child..."
Feigning ignorance, Xiao Jianren rushed into the bathroom upon hearing her mother's screams. Seeing Jian Hongmei slumped on the floor in a pool of blood, Xiao Jianren inwardly rejoiced but outwardly feigned shock, her eyes wide as she cried out in a panic, "Mom... mom, what's wrong? Why is there so much blood?"
"Quick... take me to the hospital..."
Jian Hongmei's tears flowed freely, unwilling to lose the child she had finally conceived.
But Xiao Jianren had no intention of rushing her to the hospital right away – the more blood loss, the better.
Pretending that she couldn't lift Jian Hongmei despite her efforts, Xiao Jianren began wailing hysterically, "Wah wah wah, mom, what should I do..."
It was Aunt Zhang who came running after hearing the commotion and, seeing the scene before her, hurried to call an ambulance with her mobile phone.
Xiao Wenyao, in the middle of a meeting planning the company's future with top executives over drinks, nearly fainted when he received the call. It was Zhao Secretary who drove him to the hospital, where they arrived after the procedure to remove the fetus had already been performed.
"What happened? What on earth happened!" Xiao Wenyao was nearly out of his mind, unable to comprehend how they had lost the child.
Taking preemptive action, the crying Xiao Jianren explained, "Dad, the doctor said there was a large amount of abortion pills in mom's body, but all she had today was food cooked by Aunt Zhang and nothing else from outside, so how could there have been abortion pills?"
"Could it be... could it have been Aunt Zhang?" Xiao Jianren quickly shook her head in denial. "No, that's not possible. Although mom has always been harsh with Aunt Zhang, Aunt Zhang has always been respectful to mom. It definitely couldn't have been her."
The direction she was pointing was now clear. Xiao Wenyao immediately pointed at Aunt Zhang's nose and angrily scolded her, "How could you be so vicious! You killed my son, and I'll make you pay with your life!"
He then struck Aunt Zhang several hard slaps across the face.
Aunt Zhang, in her fifties, was dazed from the blows, her tears and mucus streaming as she found herself at a loss for words.
"Wah wah wah... Master, Master, I didn't harm the Madam! You just said this morning you would raise my salary. Why would I harm the Madam? I have no reason!" Aunt Zhang sat on the floor, clutching her swollen face as she sobbed uncontrollably.
Although a servant in such a wealthy household, having seen much, she had become somewhat arrogant. But she truly would not dare to harm anyone!
"If not you, then who else? You can't expect me to believe my own daughter would want to harm her own mother and brother, can you?"
A doctor who could no longer stand idly by quickly intervened, "Quiet down! This is a hospital, don't disturb the other patients!"
He then turned to Xiao Wenyao, "Abortion pills cannot be obtained without a doctor's prescription. I suggest you let the police investigate this thoroughly before making any conclusions."
Aunt Zhang nodded vigorously, "That's right, Master. At my age, with no children of my own, I've never even left the villa. How could I have possibly obtained abortion pills?"
Xiao Wenyao calmed down, glancing at Xiao Jianren's tear-stained, concerned face, and shook his head – it definitely wasn't his daughter.
He glared at Aunt Zhang again and said to Zhao Secretary, "Take her back first and have someone look for any evidence."
Zhao Secretary nodded, and a bodyguard grabbed Aunt Zhang by the arm to take her away.
Xiao Wenyao looked at his pale wife lying on the hospital bed, his heart aching with both pity and regret for not being there with her.
Behind him, Xiao Jianren curved her lips in a faint smile. Humph, this is what you get for abandoning Xiao Nan and insisting on another child. If you hadn't made that decision, none of this would have happened!
Father and daughter kept vigil by the bedside until evening when Jian Hongmei finally awoke.
Gently caressing her abdomen, tears slid from the corners of her eyes. "My child..."
Xiao Wenyao squeezed Jian Hongmei's hand comfortingly, "Don't dwell on it. Focus on recovering your health. We can have another child eventually."
Xiao Jianren thought to herself: ...Want another child? Hah, we'll see if I don't get rid of each and every one!
"Who was it that wanted to harm my child?" Jian Hongmei asked flatly, her face betraying no sorrow or joy, as if she simply wanted an answer.
Xiao Wenyao shook his head. "I had Zhao Secretary go back to the villa to investigate, but there are no definitive results yet."
By this point, Xiao Jianren was ravenous. "Dad, now that mom is awake, I'll order some nutritious meals. Mom needs to replenish her strength and can't let her body deteriorate any further."
Seeing Xiao Wenyao nod, Xiao Jianren took out her phone and headed out of the hospital room.
What she didn't know, however, was that the small white paper packet she had left untouched in her pocket fell out as she pulled out her phone, landing on the floor.
